Parris Island's senior-enlisted adviser charged with assault

Jun. 8, 2014 - 06:00AM
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In an image taken from video, Ethan Arguello, a former Marine drill instructor, and Sgt. Maj. Paul Archie, the senior-enlisted adviser at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, get in a verbal argument. (YouTube video)

Sgt. Maj. Paul T. Archie (Marine Corps)

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The senior-enlisted adviser at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island not only appeared to get into a heated verbal argument with a protester outside of base, but he then allegedly drove away with the guy’s hat.

Sgt. Maj. Paul Archie, who works directly under the commanding general of the base, turned himself in to the local Port Royal Police Department Friday on charges of third degree assault and battery. He posted bond and was released on his own recognizance from the Beaufort County Detention Center, Stars and Stripes reports.

A video shot on the scene appears to show Archie approach Ethan Arguello, a former Marine drill instructor, get in a verbal argument, and then drive away with Arguello’s hat.

Reports say it occurred at a recent protest over the Bowe Bergdahl exchange by the Parris Island Gateway near Marina Boulevard.

“He pulls up and he walks up to me and says, ‘Are you Ethan Arguello?’ I said ‘yes’, and he said ‘I spoke to you on the phone yesterday’ and I said ‘yes.’ He said ‘I know I told you not to wear that campaign cover,’” Arguello told Vanessa Nguyen of the local CBS affiliate.

Officials at the base say leadership is taking the matter, “very seriously.”

At the publishing time of this story, Marine Corps Times had reached out to Public Affairs for a potential comment from Archie and received no response.